Inflatable brassiere



March 11, 19581 5. STAR INFLATABLE BRASSIERE Filed Jan. 20, 1954 FIG.2..

INVENTOR SIDNEY STAR /Vnti W ATTO EY United States Patent INFLATABLEBRASSIERE Sidney Star, Laurelton, N. Y.

Application January 20, 1%4, Serial No. 405,694

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-462) The present invention relates to inflatablebrassieres, in particular to an integral brassiere construction havinginflatable cup sections which are unitary with the brassiere and notreadily distinguished therefrom in inflated or non-inflated conditions.In realizing the non-distinguishing character of the inflatablebrassiere cups from the remaining portions of the brassiere, the presentinvention employs air-impervious fabrics for the cups which are of thesame material as the remaining portions of the brassiere.

Numerous brassiere constructions of the padded or inflatable types areavailable for filling out the contour of the female figure in the bustregions. A typical inflatable construction involves the use of removableor non-removable inserts received within fabric pockets formed in thebrassiere. These inserts may be initially sealed with air entrappedtherein, or in the alternative may be .provided with appropriatecloseable air inlets. Among the many disadvantages of the constructionsusing inserted bust-forming devices are the potentially embarrassingsituations which the wearer is in fear of in that their use may bediscovered during laundering, drying, dressing or disrobing; the fearthat the inserts may be dislodged from their respective cloth pockets,may be misplaced and/or found by others; the adverse psychologicalreaction experienced in the process of inserting, handling, and wearing;and in the non removable type, where the inserts are permanently sewedinto the cloth pockets, the possibility of the inserts shifting,bunching or wrinkling unnaturally through frequent laundering and wear.Since the cup portions cannot be ironed with a hot iron, wrinkled cupsare a never ending source of irritation and concern. This may be theprincipal reason for most inflatable device brassieres on the marketbeing of the removable-insert type. Even if the removable inserts arenot readily discovered, the presence of insert-receiving pockets in thebrassiere per se is a tell-tale reminder.

The disadvantages attendant to use of the inflated-type of insert findequal application to those fabricated wholly or partially of paddingmaterials, such as sponge rubber, felts, interfacings and other similarporous and sometimes water-absorbing materials. Even though the waterabsorbency of certain material, such as sponge rubber may be overcome bya waterproof lining, other disadvantages exist or are created. Littlecan be done to overcome density, bulk, and weight and in general thephysical character and appearance of brassieres using these devices. Intrying to overcome disadvantages, such as water absorbency, otherfactors may be introduced, for example increased cost and complexity infabrication.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aninflatable brassiere obviating one or more of the aforementioneddifficulties. It is within the contemplation of the invention to providea brassiere construction characterized in that the body contouring isincorporated in a manner completely compatible with a natural lookingunpadded brassiere and without introducing appurten auces of any kind.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brassierehaving the characteristics in contouring of those brassieres employinginserted devices, yet embodying the flexibility and natural appearanceof conventional unpadded brassieres.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aninflatable brassiere construction which is similar in appearance andfunction to conventional unpadded and unenhanced brassiereconstructions.

It is a still further object of the present invention to perfect abrassiere which looks exactly like and feels like a conventionalbrassiere, does not employ any bust-forming inserted or insertabledevices of any kind or type, yet accomplishes the bust-forming functionof these devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to perfect a brassierewhich looks exactly like and feels like a conventional brassiere, doesnot employ any bust forming inserted or insertable devices of any kindor type, yet accomplishes the bust forming function of these devices andcan be laundered in the conventional mannerwithout the risk of wrinklingor the necessity of ironing the cup portions. In this sense, the cupportions of the brassiere may be considered wrinkle-resistant.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a brassiere is formedincluding a pair of bust-receiving cups each fabricated of cloth havingone surface integrally coated with an air-impervious and heat'sealablethermoplastic film. Each of the bust-receiving cups is constructed offirst and second cup-forming members fashioned from the cloth and havingtheir respective coated surfaces innermost and in face to face relation,that is with the coated surfaces completely hidden from view and allexposed surfaces having the natural appearance of the cloth. Thecup-forming members are joined peripherally by a heat-sealed band formedby fusing the respective coated surfaces together, such that thecoatings cooperate to define an air-retaining space.

The above objects and brief description as well as further features andadvantages of the present invention may be best understood by referenceto the following detailed description of a presently preferredembodiment, when taken in conjunction in the accompanying drawings,wherein: V

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, folded back andsectioned showing a brassiere embodying features of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of illustrative fabric blanks used in constructinga brassiere cup of a type incorporated in the brassiere of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inside elevational view, with parts broken away, showingpartially completed brassiere cup;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a reduced scale taken substantially alongthe lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the lines55 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the lines6-6 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l abrassiere 1% illustrating a preferred form of the present inventionwhich includes a pair of bust-receiving cups l2, 14, front andbody-encircling bands or panels 16, 18, back body-encircling bands orpanels 20, 22, and adjustable shoulder straps 24, 26. Except for thedetails of the respective breast-receiving cups 12, 14 and the manner oftheir incorporation into the illustrative brassiere the remainingdetails of the brassiere may follow any of the well known and acceptedforms. In the illustrative construction shown, bands or 2,826,202 to vpanels 16, 18 are joined together and to the breastreceiving cups 12, 14by a separating or spacer panel 28 having an insert 28a of horizontallystretchable material, such as elastic. Likewise, the backbody-encircling bands or sections 20, 22 are provided with elasticinserts 20a, 22a.

i In accordance with the present invention, both of the breast-receivingcups 12, 14, as well as various other portions of the brassiere 10, areconstructed from well known brassiere fabrics, such as satin, nylon,cotton, or broadcloth. However, the material used in forming thebreast-receiving cups 12, 14 additionally is treated in a preliminaryoperation by the application thereto of an air-impervious thermoplasticcoating or film of heat scalable material, such as a vinyl plastic. Thiscoating may be readily applied toany of the wide variety of materialssuitable for construction of brassieres in accordance with techniquesand practice well understood per so. It is to be stressed that only onesurface of the material used in forming the brassiere cups is providedwith the heat-scalable plastic coating, and the presence of the coatingon this one surface in no way affects the outward appearance of thefabric. Likewise, the presence of the thermoplastic coating does notmaterially affect the feel or hand of the uncoated surface of the coatedfabric and accordingly the coating is not readily discernable by touchor appearance.

Specific reference will now be made to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, whereinthere is shown, in sequence, typical forming operations in theconstruction of the respective breast-receiving cups 12, 14, each ofwhich is seen to include in Fig. 5 in front and rear cup-forming members30, 32 each curved concavely forwardly in relation to a reference planeextending through peripheral portions of the breast-receiving cup. Thefront and rear cupforming members 30, 32 define an air space 34therebetween and are essentially the same in construction, except thatthe rear cup-forming member 32 is somewhat less concave than the frontcup-member 3t and therefore it will sufiice to describe only one indetail. Specifically, the front cup-forming member is constructed of apair of cutouts or blanks 36, 38 formed with adjacent contoured edges36a, 33a adapted to be sewn together such that the joined-togetherblanks assume the desired configuration of the well known brassiere cup.Numerous other cup constructions are equally within the contemplation ofthis invention, such as cups having respective sections or blanks joinedtogether along a vertically-extending seam, or a one-piece blank dartedor pleated to obtain the desired contouring. When the sections or blanks36, 38 are joined together by stitching 40 or the like, as a specialfeature of the invention air-sealing means 42 are disposed coextensivewith the seamed together edges internally of the cup-forming member 30.With the coated surfaces of the fabric sections 36, 38 disposedinternally of the cup-forming member 30, the scalable means 42 may takeform of a strip of plastic material which is heat sealed along bothsides of the seam 49 throughout its length; in the alternative, thescalable means 42 may be in form of a strip of fabric impregnated orcoated with a heatsealable plastic capable of forming an intimate bondon both sides of the seam with adjoining regions of the plastic-coatedfabric of the cup. The presence of the binding or sealing strip 42internally of the cup-forming member 38 does not affect the feel oroutward appearance of the brassiere, and in a sense is advantageous dueto its fashioning effect in that it serves as a lateral reinforcement.The inner or back cup-forming member 32 is constructed in a mannersimilar to the outer or front cup-forming member 39 except that it isslightly less curved and cooperates with the outer cup-forming member 32to define the air cavity or chamber 34.

The cup-forming members 30, 32, are peripherally joined together by arelatively wide swath or band 44 formed by heat sealing the confrontingfaces of the respective air-forming members 30, 32. The heat-sealed band44 may be formed by well known heat-sealing equipment, with specialprovision to obtain the required annular weld which is of a widthsuilicient to provide for the complete air-sealing of the cavity 34. Thedescribed assembly for forming the respective bustreceiving cups 12, 14assures the provision of a completely air-tight cavity or enclosure 34.As described the entrapped air Within the chamber or enclosure 34provides a contouring effect. However, as a preferred form of theinvention, the chamber or enclosure 34 is rendered selectivelyinflatable such that the contouring effect may be varied at the will ofthe wearer. This may e accomplished by provision of appropriateair-inlet means, designated by reference numeral 56. in addition toproviding adjustability as to contouring, the airinlet 5-6 permits thecontents of the respective air chambers to be completely exhaustedexcept for residual air contained therein, as when it is desired to wearthe brassiere without any contouring or padding elfect. it is to bestressed that in the illustrative arrangement of Fig. 5, the dilferencein shape of the front and rear cupe forming members 30, 32 has beensomewhat exaggerated, these members being substantially coextensive andvirtually in contact with each other except when the chamber 34 isinflated. In this sense, the brassiere can selectively take on theforming characteristics of the unenhanced conventional brassieres, orthe padded contouring brassieres that contain inserted devices.

One form of air inlet 46 advantageous for incorporation in the brassiereof the present invention includes an elongated relative rlat conduit 48of plastic material sealed at one end, as by welds or heat seals 59a,53b to the adjacent internal coated surfaces of the respectivecup-forming members 3%), 32. Traversing the conduit or tube 4 8 aretransversely-extending cooperating male and female parts 52a, 52b whichare formed to releasably interlock and are separable by spreading theoverlying and interlocking male and female parts. Terminal portions ofthe air inlet tube 48 are arranged to provide pull tabs or the like suchthat the several rows of transverse sealing parts may be disengaged by asimple manual operation. Although other releasable closures or seals arewithin the contemplation of this disclosure it is to be noted that thedescribed form is readily incorporated into the brassiere constructionand is substantially flat so that it may be disposed in relation to thecomponents of the brassiere to be hidden from view, as shown in thedrawings.

Both breast-receiving cops 12, 14 constructed in accordance with severalprinciples set forth are incorporated into the brassiere construction,as shown in Fig. l, by stitching, generally designated by the referencenumber 58 which may extend through the relatively wide heat sealedswaths or bands 44 and the overlapped layers of the cloth panels 16, 18and 28. it is to be observed that the stitching 58 is disposed inrelation to the sealed band 44 such that the air retention quality ofthe seal is not disturbed.

When thus incorporated, it is to be again stressed that thebreast-receiving cups 12, 14, each of which is formed with a selectivelyinflatable or permanently inflated air tight cavity, have all of thecharacteristics of the conven tional brassiere, the general appearanceof the assembly not being changed by the presence of the air-sealed cupssuch that they are readily distinguished without careful in spection. Itis to be further observed that the position of the respective air inlets46, is such that when the bras-- siere is on the wearer, the air inletsare not readily seen. The air inlets can be located at any convenientand accessible position, and preferably at the point which the shoulderstraps are joined to the brassiere cups 12, 14 such that the air inletexerts minimum pressure on the body of the wearer.

In view of the illustrated form of the invention wherein lets incommunication with both breast-receiving cups 12,

A brassiere constructed according to the present invention may beutilized without the inflatable characteristics. However, if it isdesirable to enhance the female contour in the bust regions, therespective cups may be individually inflated preliminary to donning thebrassiere, or in the alternative distended to the required size afterbeing placed about the body of the wearer. In the latter instance, itmay be necessary to use a removable air tube or extension in accordancewith well understood practices. The term brassiere as employed herein isintended to include brassieres per se, as well as other garments, suchas foundations, corsets, bathing suits and the like which in corporate abrassiere section or part.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the severalfunctions of the body contouring have been incorporated in a brassiereconstruction in which the contouring portions of the brassiere are notreadily distinguished from the remaining portions of the brassiere,either by sight or feel, and that the fabric employed for thebreast-receiving cups is same as the remaining portions of the brassiereexcept for the non-visible coatings applied to the inside faces of therespective cups.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, 1 haveillustrated and described the best embodiment of my invention now knownto me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes canbe made in the embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some casescertain features of my invention may be used to advantage without acorresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

1. In a brassiere, a body portion and a pair of bustreceiving cups, eachof said bust-receiving cups being fabricated of air-impervious,heat-scalable thermoplastic material and including first and secondcup-forming members fashioned from said material and disposed one withinthe other and having confronting peripheral portions, said members beingjoined adjacent saidtperipheral portions by a heat-sealed band toprovide an air-retaining space therebetween, stitching peripherallyattaching said bust-receiving cups to said body portion, and closableinlet means in communication with said air-retaining space for admissionof an inflating medium to said air-retainingspace, said inlet meansincluding confronting plastic walls marginally joined to define aconduit in communication with said airretaining space, and interlockingand complementary male and female sealing parts formed integrally withand internally of said walls, said sealing parts extending across 6 saidconduit and serving to close said conduit when interlocked.

2. In a brassiere, a body portion and a pair of bustreceiving cups, eachof said bust-receiving cups being fabricated of air-impervious,heat-scalable thermoplastic material and including first'and secondcup-forming members fashioned from said material and disposed one withinthe other and having confronting peripheral portions, said members beingjoined adjacent said peripheral portions by a heat-sealed band toprovide an air-retaining space therebctween, stitching peripherallyattaching said bustreceiving cups to said body portion, and closableinlet means in communication with said air-retaining space for admissionof an inflating medium to said air-retaining space, said inlet meansincluding confronting plastic walls marginally joined to define aconduit in communication with said air-retaining space, interlocking andcomplementary male and female sealing parts formed integrally with andinternally of said walls, said sealing parts extending across conduitand serving to close said conduit when interlocked, and integral tabsoutwardly of said sealing parts for separating said sealing parts.

3. In a brassiere, a body portion and a pair of bustreceiving cups, eachof said bust-receiving cups being fabricated of air-impervious,heat-sealable thermoplastic material and including first and secondcup-forming members fashioned from said material and disposed one withinthe other and having confronting peripheral portions, said members beingjoined adjacent said peripheral portions by a heat-sealed band toprovide an air-retaining space therebetween, the inner one of saidmembers having a fabric face for contact with the body of the wearer,stitching peripherally attaching said bust-receiving cups to said bodyportion, and closable inlet means in communication with saidair-retaining space for admission of an inflating medium to saidair-retaining space, said inlet means including confronting plasticwalls marginally joined to define a conduit in communication with saidair-retaining space, and interlocking and complementary male and femalesealing parts formed integrally with and internally of said Walls, saidsealing parts extending across said conduit and serving to close thesame when interlocked.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,423,565 Rodman July 8, 1947 2,544,300 Davenport et al. Mar. 6, 19512,562,508 Rand July 31, 1951 2,598,003 Leo et al May 27, 1952 2,666,466Sharat Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 320,451 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1929356,178 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1931

